Dear Hermana and Elder,
Every day I have more respect for you. And for Dad (second mission), Derrick, Dan,
Rocky, Mark, Fenton and Sam. Missions
are hard. But I'm so thankful to be here with Dad. He truly loves the
Philippines and the missionaries and makes everything easier for me.
Yesterday we planned a full preparation day in Manila and
were almost done with the 2-hour drive to get there when we got a call from the
Novaliches stake executive secretary inviting us to speak at 5pm at their stake
conference. So we grabbed the notebooks
Dad needed and some lunch and headed back to be in time for the
conference. It was presided over by
Elder Haney, who is the first counselor in the area presidency. I spoke for five minutes and Dad spoke for
about five minutes and mentioned how receptive the people in the Philippines
are to the gospel. By now I was totally
relaxed to have my talk over and Elder Haney said Dad's remarks had prompted
him to change his topic and he taught about the scattering/gathering of Israel,
the interesting history of the Church in the Philippines, and how the Lord had
prepared them for the gospel.
As we left we wondered if we should return the next day, and
as we got in our van the stake president told us we were on the program to speak
again the next morning! So much for my relaxation. I figured out I have given almost 20 talks in
the past six weeks!! But I survived another 5-minute talk and even though my
eye is twitching, Dad says it will eventually become easy for me just because I
have to do it so much. We have to speak
at TWO stake conferences next week.
While I was waiting for the priesthood session to be over
this morning, I was invited into a classroom by a kind woman to sit with
her. In the group of women I mentioned
that my two youngest children were serving missions and of course they asked
me, "Where?" When I said my
daughter was in Chile, one them said her daughter was in Chile, too, and had
been serving about a year. It turns out
her daughter is Hannah's friend in the MTC, Sister Macaballug! They will be flying to Manila together at the
end of their missions! I was so excited
about this that I mentioned it in my talk and pronounced the name incorrectly
and I could tell I hurt the ears of the entire congregation, by their reaction.
This week the missionaries in four zones came to the mission
office for interviews and we went to the Malolos zone for their interviews (one
hour away going and three coming back).
Interestingly, two of our brand new missionaries serving there have
roots in that area that Dad didn't know about when he placed them there: Sister Apondaca (Filipina) was born there,
has lived in another zone of the mission, and really didn't want to be called
to QCNM. Elder Brown (Tongan), is
assigned to the same area his mom served when she was in this mission!
There were several challenges with missionaries this week
which Dad handled patiently and well, including a senior couple. One of my responsibilities is encouraging the
non-English speaking missionaries to learn English through a Companion Language
Study program the Church has. Near the
end of their mission, they take a test and are given a certificate documenting
their English ability to help them get better employment when they return
home. This week I gave four tests (they
just take it on the computer) and am so thankful Derrick is on the same time
zone since he had to help with the technology every time!
I am learning and growing so much. Sometimes I am a challenge to my companion,
but unfortunately for him, he can't transfer me. I am trying to embrace the growth and
change. One day Dad said to me,
"Maybe you'll become as positive and full of faith as Fenton and Dallin by
the time your mission is over!" I
hope so. My weaknesses are so apparent.
It really is fun being here with Dad. He is super friendly and kind and the
missionaries and members love him. He's
even softened the heart of the formerly surly senior missionary in charge of
vehicles and apartments. (It's is a hard
job even finding all the apartments in this mission!). Claudia Cole and her
companion enter the MTC at the end of next month. They are in for an adventure!
I love you and appreciate your service so much!
Love,
Mom
A rat caught in our attic.
Sister Macabullug and Hannah at the MTC
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